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Johannesburg - The SA Communist Party (SACP) has accused the three platinum producers, Lonmin [JSE:LON], Implats [JSE:IMP] and Amplats [JSE:AMS] of avoiding centralised bargaining and competing among themselves on payments of workers.
"All of this has resulted in chronic labour market instability," general secretary Blade Nzimande told reporters in Johannesburg on Sunday.
"To add insult to injury, the senior management have been paying themselves huge and insensitive salaries and perks."
He was speaking to media following the party's central committee meeting held over three days.
Nzimande said, while the strike in the platinum sector had to be resolved, there was a danger that any settlement reached would focus on remuneration, while issues of transformation would be sidelined.
"This will leave the initiative for and direction of restructuring in the hands of the mining monopolies. The mining houses are looking ...to close many shafts and operations... at the cost of of labour in the more profitable operations," he said.
Nzimande said it was for this reason that they were calling for a mining indaba.
He said the agenda should include discussions on how to take forward the resolution of ANC-mandated state intervention in the mining sector, as well as talks on moving towards centralised bargaining for all mining sectors and changes to the grading system in mining.
Nzimande said mining companies' pursuit of mega profits could not be allowed to continue.
A strike at Lonmin, Impala and Anglo American Platinum mines has been going on since January 23, when members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) downed tools, demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
